ITINERARY
Intention for this journey: To feel alive! To awaken your spirit and reconnect with your souls calling with a beautiful group of like minded people ready for a new adventure. Stepping into ceremony and ritual with joy, playfulness and child like exploration you will discover a whole other realm of existence in the Andes that will stay with you for life.
Day 1: Friday, July 5
Arrive to Cusco, Peru
Fly into Cusco (ideally before noon) we will provide transport to Ollantaytambo (1.5hr drive). Check in to the Lodge and rest under the mountains in the hammocks after the long travel journey.
After lunch and before dinner we will have an opening circle with the whole group. Sara Nunez, a local medicine woman, will introduce us to the coca leaf for prayers and intentions for our journey in the Andes.
The first day is intended for arriving, grounding and acclimating. It will be a light day for those who need to rest after traveling and for those who have energy can explore the town and ruins.
Day 2: Saturday, July 6
Visit a Quechua village in Patacancha Valley
After breakfast and a morning circle we will travel by car (about 30mins) up to Patacancha Valley where there is a rural Quechua community and the locals would love to give us a glimpse into life in the Andes and share some ancestral traditions like weaving from llama and alpaca wool as well as sharing a traditional Pachamanca lunch with us. Pachamanca is an ancient traditional way of cooking that has been used for thousands of years in the Andes, Pacha (Earth) Manca (Oven), the food is cooked under ground with stones from the fire.
We will return back to our lodge in Ollantaytambo in the late afternoon for some free time, dinner in town and preparing for our early morning to Machu Picchu.
Day 3: Sunday, July 7
Machu Picchu
We will be waking early, around 5:00am to catch the train to Machu Picchu. We will spend the entire day inside the Machu Picchu ruins with a local guide and in deep connection. We will return back to Ollantaytambo by train in the evening.
Day 4: Monday, July 8
Despacho (Earth Offering) & Sweat Lodge
After breakfast we will travel by car to a sacred cave in a nearby valley. This cave is an ancient portal and we will learn and experience a traditional Despacho Ceremony (Earth offering ritual) with Don Hernan and Sara Nunez. We will return to Ollantaytambo by car, but for those who feel like hiking can trek back to town (about 5miles).
In the evening we will have the option to participate in an Andean sweat lodge ceremony to cleanse the mind, body and spirit in preparation for our Huachuma, San Pedro Ceremony the next day.
Day 5: Tuesday, July 9
Huachuma, San Pedro cactus plant medicine ceremony
After breakfast, we will travel by car up the valley to the sacred ruin site of Puma Marka. We will have our daytime Huachuma, San Pedro Cactus Ceremony here, slowly hiking downhill back to Ollantaytambo (about 2hrs) where we will close the ceremony around a fire with nourishing soup.
To learn more about San Pedro Cactus visit our FAQ page. It's a gentle, heart opening plant medicine and is optional. You are welcome to join the ceremony and hike without drinking the medicine and still have a beautiful day.
Day 6: Wednesday, July 10
After breakfast we will have transportation to the village of Pisac (1.5 hour drive) and check into a new lodge for our final night together. Pisac is an international hub for healers, it has a wonderful market for shopping and amazing ruins to explore.
Today may be needed to rest and integrate, you may feel energized to explore the ruins or just wander the village with amazing food and markets.
Pisac Town and Ruins
Closing Circle
Day 7: Thursday, July 11
Breakfast and a closing circle before check-out. Transportation to Cusco Airport arranged for those departing today.
Pisac is a nice town to spend an extra day if you have time or if you want to add a final day in Cusco I can give you recommendations.
If anyone is interested in deeper plant medicine work I am planning to attend one Ayahuasca ceremony in Pisac on July 12 before returning home and can share the information with you if you're interested. I also have recommendations for Ayahuasca ceremony in the Amazon.
Retreat Cost
The cost of the retreat – including all the experiences above, 6 nights of accommodation, breakfast each day, local transportation, guides, and local teachers/maestros/facilitators is $2,800. The cost is reduced to $2,600 if you are interested in sharing a room with one other person. Single rooms are limited and will be first come first served in room request selection. Please note that these costs do not include any airfare.
To hold your spot in this retreat, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is due by May 1, 2024 directly to Taylor Shefer, the retreat organizer with Awakening Journeys LLC- you can venmo her directly @Taylor-Wagner-3 or request to send a check/Zelle transfer. Feel free to reach out to Taylor with any questions at awakeningjourneys1@gmail.com
Awakening Journeys